Cylindrical brush



March 4, 1958 J. E. GROGAN 2,825,081

CYLINDRICAL BRUSH Filed July 50. 1954 /NVENTOR JOHN E. GROGAN f'ATTOR/VE V United States Paten,.-.

CYLINDRICAL BRUSH John E. Grogan, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to TheFuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication July 30, 1954, Serial No. 446,789

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-182) y This invention relates to brushes and, morespecifically, to an improved brush elementor strip and to brushes formedtherewith.

A brushl strip ordinarily includes an elongated metal channel member ofgenerally U-shaped cross section wherein the side walls of the channelmember converge to engage and press against and thereby retain thecentral portions of brush fibers which are also included in the strip.The said central portions of the fibers are usually folded within thechannel member around a core wire so that the end portions of thefbers'project through the open face or longitudinally extending neckdefined between the converging side walls. The core wire is generallylocated at least partly withink the channel and extends longitudinallythereof to cooperate with the side walls of the channel member to retainthe fibers.

lx1-accordance with the conventional practice of brush manufactureutilizing brush strips, the said strips are mounted and secured to brushsupport structure. In a cylindrical or rotary brush, the supportstructure is generally cylindrical and ordinarily referred to as thecore and mayor may not be provided with a longitudinally extendingopening. It is an ordinary practice to f orm a cylindrical brush byspirally winding or coiling a Vbrush strip around the core.

Various means have been employedA to mount and secure the'metal channelmember on the core. ln some instances, the core has been provided withyundercut clamping devices and in'still other instances, the side wallsofthe channel membersv have been provided with lateral extensionsengageable by or within clamping der vices or fastening members.`vvThegeneral object of the invention s to provide a channel type brushelement or strip which requires no fastening devices to hold the stripin a desired position inacylindrical brush structure and which, in fact,requires no support structure or core in forming a cylindrical brush. Aswill be shown in detail hereinafter, this objectis attained by providingflanges on the side walls of the metal channel members which are adaptedto engage and berigidly secured to similar flanges on the side wallsof'the channel member of an adjacent brush strip orf-the adjacentsection or coil of the same brush strip. vAnother object of theinvention is to provide a brush strip which 4canbe used in a variety ofways in brush manufacture and in the fabrication of cylindrical brushesat reduced cost without sacrificing strength in the brushes formed.` v

--Ot-her .objects of the .invention will be apparent from ilse, but itwill-be Aunderstood that-various-changes may 2,825,081 Patented Mar. 4,1.9552` be made from the construction shown and that the drawing is notto be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, theclaims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for thatpurpose.

Of the drawing, n

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of my improved strip;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a cylindrical brush constructed in accordancewith the present invention and showing a portion of the brush inlongitudinal section to illustrate details; and

Fig. 3 is a view of the left-hand end of the brush shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, my novel brush strip 10 includes an elongated metalchannel member indicated generally by the reference numeral 12. l' hesaid channel member is transversely shaped throughout its length todefine a generally U-shaped channel within a rear wall 14 and twointegrally formed forwardly converging side walls 16 and 18. The channelmember 12 is further transversely shaped throughout its length toprovide a laterally extending flange 20 along the forward edge of theside wall 16 and a substantially coplanar laterally extending flange 22along the forward edge of the side wall 18. One of the flanges, forexample the flange 20, is provided with a rearwardly offset marginalportion 24 which extends throughout the length of the channel member 12and which terminates in one longitudinal edge 26. The other` laterallyextending flange, for example the flange-22, is providedwith a forwardlyoffset marginal portion 28 which extends for the length of the channelmember 12 and defines a longitudinal edge 30 thereon.

It is important to observe that the marginal portion or wing 24 isrearwardly offset from the flange 20 sub? stantially the same distancethat the marginal portion 'of the wing 28 is forwardly offset from theflange 22 ano that the amount of offset in each case is no greater thanthe thickness of the metal stock used in forming the channel member 12.lt will be quite apparent, the lateral flanges 20 and 22 beingsubstantially co-planar, that when two channel members are joined inside-by-side relationship with the forwardly offset wing 28 of onechannel member overlapping the rearwardly offset wing 24 of the adjacentchannel member, the rear walls 14 of the channel members will reside inthe same 'plane'.

Alayer of brush fibers 32 is also included in the struc# ture of thebrush strip and the fibers 32 may comprise any of the suitable metal,vegetable, animal or synthetic brush fibers commonly used.l The saidlayer of fibers 32 is arranged so that the end portions of the fibersproject generally forwardly through the channel neck defined between theconverging side walls 16 and 18. Ordinarily, there is included alongitudinally extending wire core 34 which is at least partlywithin thechannel member 12. A round wire is shown which is entirely within thechannel. the fibers are folded around the said wire within the channelmember so that the forwardly projecting end portions of the fibersproject either in two rows or in one row to provide the brushingsurface. During manufacture, the layer of fibers 32, while straight, isdeposited with the core wire 34 on the channel strip 12 before thesidewalls 16 and 13 are closed to their final positions. The core wire34 is guided into the channel member, thus folding the central portionsof the fibers in the layer 32 aroundit. The side walls 16 and 18 arethen rolled or pressed against the central portions of the fibers tobind the-several parts together by` pressure. j i j 5 It is'a feature ofthe present invention that a cylindrical brush can be formed with theaforedescribed brush strip lit. Such a cylindrical brush will compriseaplurality of similar brush strip convolutions having a common centerWhen the core wire is provided,.

. prises a channel member having an inner wall and two side wallsdefining a generally U-shaped channel and also having:.twov.opp'ositely` and:rgenerallyolateralltcfproilectingangessandgwherein.- theibrush'rstrip ofneachi; convolution)alsofcomprises ta .-layer of ,brns'lribers :securedfwithinethe channeland projectingioutwardi'y therefnomnthe diange at one side of each brushstrip convolutionitengaging (and being secured toethefange ati theoppositefside of the `next adjacent brush strip convolution. Such a`cylindrical brush ristshovtn in Figs, .Itand .andnindca'ted' bin-the referencelcharacter C.,;,The;brush Cistforfned ofiatplurahty ofnsi'milar.brush stripfconvolutionsiwherein :the-:strip of each convolutioncomprises the channel member. 12 havingthe'reartwail-ltetheaside walls16.a n`d 18,:the Hinges 20 and 22 and the rearwardly andforwardly;offset wings 24 and-123.`. The forwardly.r offset wing 28oftthe. strip in one l convolution overlaps on t embraces` ;the.yrearwardly offset .wingt 24 of :the strip inqthe; nextadjaaentconvolution. :Theoverlapped wings 28 and 24 aresecured to eachl other`by welding in circumaxially spaced locations or by seam welding., along`the said wings-- Thus, .with the convolutions ofthechannel-.memberrjrigidly connected together,y the inner.4 Wallinonefconvol-ution is spacedfrom the center .line4 the'sameldistance as.the-rear wall in every other convolution.

It will be quiteapparentthat in-forming a :cylindrical brush C byengaging: and welding together thefchannel members of `adjacentconvolutionsof a :brush strip,.the said brushxstrip becomesself-supporting in the cylindrical brush. kThat is, arigidconnectionfis'effected .between the convolutions of the strip sothatthechannel member need not be mounted upon aJseparate 4core`structureforsupport purposes.

Thebrush C is preferablyformed byhelically winding a single brush strip10 so thatV its'adjacent convolutions may be connected together inthemanner previously described. In forming .acylindrical brush byinterconnecting adjacent helical` convolutions of afsingle .brush strip,the said cylindrical ,brush is provided with a longitudinally extendingoffset 36 at one endthereof and a longitudinally extendingolisetS attheothen endthereof.Y The offset 36 is defined, by oneend of thexbrush`strip 10V and the offset 38 is defined bythe other end ofthe brush strip10, the said ends or offsets facing in opposite circumferentialdirections.

' The cylindrical brush C may find a widevariety ofindependentapplications,A but it is particularly adapted to be usedinforming acomposite cylindrical brush strip structure whenconnectedwith one or more similarly formed independent cylindrical brushes. -Morespecifically, the brush C may be connected in endto.end.relation shipwith a similarly .formed cylindrical gbrush-l with :theend. of the brushhaving an offset engagedwiththe opposite end of the saidsimilarlyuformed brush. When so engaged, the oppositely facingoffsets-36` and.` 38 .on theisimilar brushes will abut .each other inIdrivingengagement so that one cylindrical brush can drivethe other'cylindrical brush of the composite brush structure. It` will` be `seenthat the engaged ends of the similar brushes, can be secured togethersimilarly to adjacent convolutions in a single cylindrical brush. That.is,. the'- forwardly offset wing. 28 in the end convolution of'E the one`brush will overlap or embrace the rearwardly offset wing in the endconvolution of .the other brushand the said wings can be welded togetherif desired, However, it.may; be more desirable to have the cylindricalbrushes detachablyeonnected in the composite brush structure so asto'pres'erve their separate utility. When the brushes are farrangecl fordetachable 4connection. andindependentutility, it is. desirable that theends, of. theY strip. makjnglup a cylindrical brush,- such as .the.brush` C,.be closed: so thatfthefibers from the layerf 32 ,cannotescapethroughwthe openends of the channel member 12. Thiscanbeaccomplished, as indicated by the 'referencenumeraLftO in. l.-`vi'g.m?1 ,hy1 bendu,ingthe.endedges ofthesidewalls 16 and 18 towards .each

'. sitely and generallyilaterallytprojectingflanges integral with theside walls and wherein the said brush strip also.

has a layer bf brushfibersisecured withinth'echannel-and-V projectingforwardly therefrom; and the' further'stepA of winding the brush stripto provide successive similar helical\.convolutionsswhereinithezrearivall ofrthe `channel member faces inwardly.. andthefibers project outwardly and wherein theffiange" at one `sidel of eachbrush strip convolution engages and is secured to the iiange at theopposite side of the next adjacent convolution. Inpractisingetheioregoingf.method.the brushstripr 10 .may be helicall;wound upon afcyli-ndrical rotatingfarbor or shaft and the overlappedwings 24 and 28 welded together while the said` strip is.wounduponfthesaid arbor. o1-.shaft. Then,.the-forming.anbor may beremoved from thetcoilcd4 strlp.

. .While the.novelnbrushstriphas .been described in1connectionawitha'tr'nethod. ofl forming r11-cylindrical- `brush whereinfthe.interengagednchannel convolutions Yprovide theentire brush supportLstructure in the form of azcore, it should be-nnderstoodthat cylindricalbrushes formed in accordance .with `this-invention may also be used inbrush structures wherein .additional -supportstructure is. provided....That is, `the Acylindrical brush C can. be mounted on` anadditionalcore structure .if .desired.1 However, .it is an..impor.tant.aspect of. the present .invention that. the

interconnected `convolutions of-the strip provide all of thesupport.structureanecessary ifonmost brush. uses. and installations.

The-invention. claimed is:

1`. A brush stripcomprising an elongated channel member4 having azreamwall` and `two :side walls `definingan open front. longitudinallyextending channel and .which also `has two'oppositely projectingsubstantiallyco-planar lateral flanges formed integrally with thesidewalls and terminating inlongitudinal edges,.one ofthesaid flangesbeing offset .forwardly adjacent` its. longitudinal edge. andthe..`said.flanges being constructed and .arranged sothat the forwardlyoffsetportion of..the.said one fiange .will engage. andy overlap. `the.other. flange: of a. similar. channel Ymember .when .arrangedinsideby.side..relationship therewith I.and .with the 4 rear ...wallof.. the said channel memben in...substantially..the1same plane as therearwwall of:the..similar 1cha-nnelf.member.,.and a layer. of brushfiberssecured within the channeland projecting generally forwardlythrough the open front` thereof.

2.- Abrush strip comprising an. elongated'channel member having airear`wall.. and twosidewwalls definingan open front.` longitudinally..extending channel and .xwhich also has two oppositely-projcctingsubstantiallyico-planar lateral .fiangesformed.integrally with the sidewalls and plane` as..the,:rear.wall ofnthesimilar channel member,

and a layer of brush fibers secured within the channel andprojectinggenerally.forwardly throught-the open front thereof` v 3. Acylindrical brush comprising a plurality of similar brush. strip`convolutions. having a common .center .line

andtwhereinv the; brushz'strip of` each .convolution com prises a. `n:hannel-member having .an :inner .walli and two side walls defining agenerally U-shaped channel and also having two oppositely and generallylaterally projecting substantially co-planar flanges integral with thesaid side walls and wherein the brush strip of each convolution alsocomprises a layer of brush fibers secured within the channel thereof andprojecting generally outwardly therefrom, the flange at one side of eachbrush strip convolution having an offset portion adjacent itslongitudinal edge which overlies and is rigidly secured to the flange atthe opposite side of the next adjacent v brush strip convolution withthe inner wall of the channel member in each convolution being spacedfrom the center line a distance substantially equal to the spacing ofthe inner wall of the channel member from the center line in the nextadjacent convolution.

4. A cylindrical brush comprising a plurality of brush stripconvolutions having a common center line and wherein the brush strip ofeach convolution comprises a channel member having an inner wall and twoside walls defining a generally U-shaped channel and also having twooppositely and generally laterally projecting substantially co-planarflanges integral with the said side walls and wherein the brush strip ofeach convolution also comprises a layer of brush fibers secured withinthe channel thereof and projecting generally outwardly therefrom, theange at one side of each brush strip convolution having an outwardlyprojecting offset adjacent and along its longitudinal edge and theflange at the other side of each brush strip convolution having aninwardly projecting offset adjacent and along its longitudinal edge, theoutwardly projecting offset of each brush strip convolution overlyingand being rigidly secured to the inwardly projecting offset of the nextadjacent brush strip convolution with the inner wall of the channelmember in each convolution being spaced from the center line a distancesubstantially equal to the spacing of the inner wall of the channelmember from the center line in the next adjacent convolution.

5. A cylindrical brush comprising a helically coiled brush strip havinga channel member which includes an inner wall and two side wallsdefining a generally U-shaped channel and which also includes twooppositely and generally laterally projecting substantially co-planarflanges integral with the said side walls, one of the said flangeshaving an outwardly projecting offset which is constructed and arrangedso that the said offset in one convolution of the strip embraces and isrigidly connected with the other flange in the next adjacent convolutionof the strip, and a layer of brush fibers secured within the channel andprojecting generally outwardly therefrom.

6. A cylindrical brush comprising a helically coiled brush strip havinga channel member which includes an inner wall and two side wallsdefining a generally U-shaped channel and which also includes twooppositely and generally laterally projecting substantially co-planarflanges integral with the said side walls, one of the said flangeshaving van outwardly projecting offset and the other of the said flangeshaving an inwardly projecting offset which outwardly and inwardlyprojecting offsets are constructed and arranged so that the outwardlyprojecting offset in one convolution of the strip embraces and isrigidly connected with the inwardly projecting offset in the nextadjacent convolution of the strip, and a layer of brush fibers securedwithin the channel and projecting generally outwardly therefrom.

7. A cylindrical brush comprising a helically coiled brush strip havinga channel member which includes an inner wall and two forwardlyconverging side walls delining a channel having a narrow neck and whichalso includes two substantially co-planar flanges projecting in oppositegenerally lateral directions from the outer edges of the said side wallsand which are formed integrally with the said side walls, one of thesaid anges having an offset which projects outwardly and the other ofsaid flanges having a substantially equal offset which projectsinwardly, the said offsets being constructed and arranged so that theoutwardly projecting offset in one convolution of the strip embraces andis rigidly connected with the inwardly projecting offset in the nextadjacent convolution of the strip, a core wire located at least partlywithin the channel and extending therealong, and a layer of brush fibersfolded around the core wire within the channel and engaged by the saidside walls and having end portions projecting outwardly through the neckof the channel.

8. A cylindrical brush comprising a helically coiled brush strip withthe first convolution of the strip providing one end of the cylindricalbrush which one end has a longitudinally extending offset defined by oneend of the strip which faces in one circumferential direction and withthe last convolution of the strip providing the other end of thecylindrical brush which other end has a longitudinally extending offsetdefined by the other end of the brush strip which faces in the oppositecircumferential direction, the said strip including a channel memberhaving an inner wall and two side walls defining a generally U-shapedchannel, the said channel member also having oppositely and generallylaterally projecting substantially co-planar flanges integral with thesaid side walls which flanges are constructed and arranged so that theflange at one side of the channel member in one convolution of theIstrip embraces and is rigidly connected with the liange at the otherside of the channel member in the next adjacent convolution, and a layerof brush fibers secured within the channel and projecting generallyoutwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,313,329 Evert Mar. 9, 1943 2,553,748 Carlson May 22, 1951 2,636,541Rutherford Apr. 28, 1953 2,653,340 Cave Sept. 29, 1953

